PH’s 3x3 squads suffer heartbreakers in finals

PHNOM PENH—The Philippines settled for silver-medal finishes in the finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games 3-on-3 men’s and women’s basketball at the Morodok Techno Elephant Hall on Sunday.

The PH men’s side, led by Almond Vosotros, managed to stay close, but eventually succumbed to the imposing Cambodian team of naturalized players, 15-20, in the finals.

Sayeed Alkabir Pridgett, a 24-year-old American pro, led the

Cambodians with 10 points.

Vosotros also had 10 points for the Filipinos. Cambodia’s team stepped up with its defense after Lervin Flores brought the Filipinos close, 15-17, but Pridgett scored the final points with his deuce and drive in the last 5.2 seconds. “Everybody knows that they’re mostly imports. But we did our best and played our best,” said Gilas men’s 3x3 coach Lester del Rosario. Meanwhile, defense on Jack

Athletics’ big guns Obiena, Knott are coming

SIEM REAP—The big guns of athletics, led by Olympians Ernest John Obiena and Kristina Knott, go into action Monday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh with the goal of surpassing the team’s medal haul in the last edition of the biennial meet.

Hoping to eclipse its five-gold, seven-silver and 14-bronze haul in athletics during the Hanoi games, Team Philippines will be led by world no. 3 pole vaulter Obiena, who according to the news wire service Agence FrancePresse is “perhaps the biggest favorite in any athletics event at this games.” Obiena, who will aim for another stint in the Olympics (Paris 2024) when the qualifying window opens in July, has a personal best of 5.94 meters. But he doesn’t have to leap that high in these games, where the SEA Games record only stands at just 5.46,

Animam held down the Filipinas in the last two minutes, allowing the Vietnamese to prevail, 21-16, for the gold.

Coach Patrick Aquino said Gilas Women still had a better showing after finishing empty handed last year.

“Luck was not on our side this time around after losing the first game, and making it to the championship, and losing it. But’s it’s better than the last SEA Games,” said Aquino.

Peter Atencio

total journey from Italy. “Katulad nga ng sinabi niya, pupunta siya dito para ‘jump to win’.”

The 27-year-old Tokyo Olympian will be gunning for a third straight pole vault gold at 4:05 p.m. (5:05 in Manila) and maybe, go for the record. But this will all be based on what kind of rhythm Obiena will have on Monday.

“Tignan muna natin kung ano ang magiging position niya, and then we will take it from there,” the older Obiena added.

All eyes will also be on the team’s other athletic stars Knott and reigning fastest woman in Southeast Asia – Kayla Richardson.

The 27-year Knott, for one, has been aching for competition in these games. After becoming the darling of athletics during the 2019 edition of the games in the Philippines, where she bagged two golds (200 and 4x100 mixed relay), including a new games record in the 200, Knott missed the Hanoi games when she tore her left plantar fasciitis. Riera Mallari satisfied of the Filipino athletes’ performance, while hoping that their early success is sustainable until the finish.

“So far, I’m very happy. It’s a good start, hopefully we can retain it,” said Bachmann in a brief huddle with Filipino sportswriters covering the games.